Faced with a dire economy and an unstable job market, America’s young people haven’t just wallowed in self-pity and thrown their hands up in despair. They’ve gotten creative. They’ve adapted and evolved, creating their own jobs and doing whatever it takes to make a buck or two, and at the very least, pay the rent.

So how does a student or recent graduate know when to cut her losses and walk away from a situation where she’s being treated unfairly, and when to suck it up and take on the grunt work and extra responsibilities with a smile, because the experience is worth it?